Report of Regents Cultural Education Committee to The Board of Regents

Your Committee on Cultural Education had its scheduled meeting on October 8, 2019. Regent Roger Tilles and Regent Judith Johnson, Co-Chairs of the Cultural Education Committee, submitted the following written report. In attendance were committee members: Regent Tilles, Co-Chair, Regent Johnson, Co-Chair, Regent Cea, Regent Cottrell, Regent Ouderkirk and Regent Mead. Regents, in addition to Cultural Education Committee members, in attendance were: Chancellor Rosa, Vice Chancellor Brown, Regent Cashin, Regent Norwood, Regent Chin, Regent Collins, Regent Hakanson, Regent Reyes, and Regent Mittler. Also, in attendance were Interim Commissioner Beth Berlin and Counsel Shannon Tahoe.  

ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION

Co-Chairs Regent Tilles and Regent Johnson welcomed everyone. Deputy Commissioner Mark Schaming informed the Regents of the newest issue of the New York History journal, which is now published under a new collaboration between the New York State Museum and Cornell University Press. Deputy Commissioner Schaming also provided an update on the New York State Summer School of the Arts 2019 summer session and shared a short video from one of the public concerts performed by the School of Orchestral Studies this summer.

Update on Programs and New Acquisitions at the State Archives (Discussion) [CE (D) 1]

Tom Ruller, State Archivist, provided an update on the status of State Archives programs and highlighted new acquisitions to the Archives’ collection. The Archives preserves over 250 million documents representing New York’s colonial and state governments and has responsibility for records management programs for state and local government records as well as providing services to non-government archival repositories across the state. 

Appointment to the Regents Advisory Council on Libraries (Action) [CE (A) 1]

Deputy Commissioner Mark Schaming introduced the recommended appointments to the Library Regents Advisory Council. Members of the Library Regents Advisory Council advises the Board on issues concerning library policy, works with the officers of the State Education Department in developing a comprehensive statewide library and information policy, and makes recommendations to the Regents for implementing library programs and initiatives. The recommended appointments to the Library Regents Advisory Council are: Chancey Fleet, Assistive Technology Coordinator at New York Public Library (five-year term); Manami Tezuka, Supervisor of Library Media Services at Syracuse City School District (five-year term); Dr. Jamie Smith, Dean of Liberal Arts, Science, and Initiatives at Erie Community College (five-year term); and Tatiana Bryant, Assistant Professor/Outreach and Promotion Librarian, Adelphi University (four-year term).

Motion: Regent Ouderkirk
Second: Regent Cottrell
Unanimous vote in favor of the motion.

Non-State Aid Budget and Legislative Initiatives (Discussion) [CE (D) 2]

Interim Commissioner Beth Berlin presented proposals for the Board’s 2020 Non-State Aid budget and legislative priorities that relate to the Office of Cultural Education. The proposals include: an increase of $11 million for State Aid for Library Construction (for a total of $45 million), $1.5 million for continuing access to the New York State Summer School of the Arts program, and $5 million to support the enactment of the Museum Education Act.